wrote to caption the video. She also thanked her friend Patty Jackson for assisting with the surprise.
Stevie and Patti are contemporaries in the music industry and have collaborated on countless occasions. One of their most memorable performances was in 2015 when they hit the stage at the Soul Train 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame ceremony alongside the late Bill Withers and BeBe Winans.
Stevie Wonder at the "Stevie Wonder's HEAVEN" event presented by The Art of Elysium in January 2017. | Photo: Getty Images
The foursome sang Bill’s’ hit, “Lean on Me,” the same song Stevie sang when he paid tribute to the late singer following his passing in April. He performed it during the “One World: Together At Home” COVID-19 benefit concert where he gave credit to Bill for the song and it's aptness to the times.
“During hardships like this, we have to lean on each other. My friend, the late Bill Withers, has the perfect song about that and I want us to remember him tonight.”
Following Bill’s death, Patti expressed her grief in an email to Billboard. She described him as “a musical genius and trailblazer who has inspired so many.” She added,
"I know his spirit lives on through his beautiful music!"
Bill, who’s also famous for his hits, “Lovely Day,” “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Just The Two of Us” died on April 2 at the age of 81. His family cited heart and lung complications as the cause. He was survived by his wife, Marcia, and their two children and a legacy of unparalleled timeless hits.
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